OBITUARIES
Clara Estelline Mikeworth
Clara Estelline Mikeworth
September 2, 1929 – April 4, 2015
BELLEVUE – Clara Estelline Mikeworth, 85, passed away April 4, 2015 in Bowie, TX.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. April 7 at The White Family Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. April 8 at the First Baptist Church of Bellevue. Burial will follow at Bellevue Cemetery.
Estelline was born Sept. 2, 1929 in Vashti to J.D. and Daphna (Bennett) Bridgewater. She married Henry Neal Mikeworth on May 6, 1946 in Henrietta.
Estelline was a full time homemaker earlier in her life raising two sons. She actively participated in their schools as president of the PTA and other volunteer associations. Once her sons were grown she entered the workforce taking a secretary position and then becoming a travel agent until her retirement.
Estelline was a lifelong member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and continued her volunteer work with the Women’s Auxillary at Bowie Memorial Hospital, Bowie Senior Citizens and Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department. She maintained an active life in the order of Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile.
Estelline was past worthy matron of Geneva, IL post No. 595 and twice worthy matron of post No. 978 of Bluegrove as well as past queen of Shelomi post No. 43 of Wichita Falls.
She had also achieved highest honors as grand marshall of order of Eastern Star in Illinois in 1981, grand lecturer of Illinois in 1980, grand representative of South Carolina in 1980 and of Texas in 1981.
She is preceded in death by her parents, J.D. and Daphna Bridgewater; and her beloved husband, Henry Neal Mikeworth.
Estelline is survived by two sons, Herbert Mikeworth and wife Linda, Mendon, IL; Larry Mikeworth and wife Marsha, Newark, OH; two grandchildren, Tonya Gilmore and Joseph Mikeworth; great grandchild, Tyler Gilmore; numerous nieces and nephews; and numerous grand nieces and grand nephews.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Shriners Childrens Hospital at 6977 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030 or Ladies Auxillary at Bowie Memorial Hospital at 705 E Greenwood Ave, Bowie, TX 76230.
Arrangements have been entrusted to The White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
November 5, 1938 – April 18, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – Maggie Killen, 87, died on April 18, 2026.
A graveside service took place at 1 p.m. on April 27 at Salona Cemetery near Bowie.
She was born on Nov. 5, 1938 in Bowie to Bertha Irene (Brewer) and Emmett Franklin Thompson. She was a graduate of Bowie High School. She was an oil information secretary and later in life as a business office manager in a skilled nursing home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bertha Irene and Emmett Franklin Thompson: sisters; Gracie McNatt, Berneice Oliver, Ola Mae Deeton, Ernestine Ray and Dorothy Woolf: brothers; Kelly Thompson, John Thompson, Lonnie Thompson, Wayne Thompson and Tommy Thompson; son, Ricky Wallace and daughter, Vicki Cullens.
She is survived by two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to University Park Nursing and Rehab.
June 4, 1947 – April 19, 2026
SPAINSH FORT – Sammy Joe Mitchell, 78, died on April 19, 2026.
There was a visitation from 5-6 p.m. on April 24 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. on April 25 at Spanish Fort Cemetery in Spanish Fort.
He was born on June 4, 1947 in Nocona to Bonnie O. Mitchell Jr. & Mary Lou Cross Mitchell. He grew up in the Spanish Fort area and went to school at Prairie Valley Schools. He was a hard-working farmer, rancher and mechanic all of his life and served his nation in the Airforce. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Spanish Fort. He married the love of his life Robbie Hawthorne on May 8, 1971 in Nocona.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steven Chris Mitchell.
He is survived by his wife, Robbie Mitchell, Spanish Fort; children, Joe Chris Mitchell, Spanish Fort and Kasie Hamilton, Bowie; sister, Bonnie Robertson, Spanish Fort; six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to The Montague County Youth Fair, c/o Kenton Holloway, 5549 F.M. 1758, Bowie, TX 76230.
November 8, 1958 – April 20, 2026
NOCONA – Lesli Jan Phipps, 67, died on April 20, 2026.
There was a funeral service at 2 p.m. on April 23 at Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona with Pastor David Rogers officiating. The interment followed in Hope Cemetery, Henrietta. Pallbearers were Will Johnson, Ben Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Kaye Rhoades, Tom Skinner and Bill Holcomb.
She was born in Nocona on Nov. 8, 1958 to Gerald “Jerry” and Lucia Painter Johnson. She grew up in Nocona and graduated Nocona High School in 1977. She attended Bethel Baptist Church. She later attended college at Midwestern State University and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She worked mostly in accounting for Northrop Grumman. She married Curtis Phipps on June 3 2021 in Henrietta.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Curtis Phipps, Nocona; children, Blake Gantz, Euless, Emily Gantz Hicks, Hoover, AL and Garrett Palla, Denton; brother, Craig Johnson; and one grandson.
Memorial donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at www.komen.org.
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